PNP creates panel to investigate killing of Mayor Espinosa

Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has created a panel to investigate the deat of Albuera town Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. inside his cell in Baybay, Leyte.

The PNP said Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejer of Police Regional Office 8 “has constituted a panel that will look into the incident.”

The PNP said the Regional Internal Affairs Service 8 (RIAS8) would also conduct its own investigation.

“As a matter of procedure, this incident will undergo investigation to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident,” the PNP said in statement.

On Saturday morning, Espinosa was killed in a “firefight” after allegedly resisting arrest at the Baybay, Leyte Sub-Provincial Jail.

READ: Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa killed in ‘firefight’ inside jail

An incident report from the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Espinosa and another detainee, identified as Raul Yap, were killed after the two allegedly got into a shootout with operatives of the of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Northern Leyte.

Police said the two drug suspects reportedly fired at the cops who were inside the jail to serve the arrest warrant.

Malacañang on Saturday declined to give comments pending the ongoing investigation. IDL

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